Learning the Ropes (2 page)

“Yeah, she was pretty.” David shrugged but didn’t look away. “I suppose.”

Chris could see he was interested but didn’t want to appear overly so and laughed at him. “That’s Alicia Kanani, Sydney’s best friend. You don’t remember her?”

He looked surprised. “The one who was rodeo queen a few years ago?”

“That’s the one. Why? Want me to talk to her for you?”

David frowned and shook his head. “The last thing I need right now is a female distraction. You don’t either,” he pointed out. “Get your head in the game. We are sitting fourth in the standings and we need to be higher before the National Finals.”

“Yes, sir.” Chris snapped him a mock salute while David glared at him. “But if you think I’m going to act like a monk because you do, you’re insane. With all these available females just vying for my attention? I mean, just look at them.”

Chris nodded his head toward the fence where several women in miniskirts, cowboy boots, and half-shirts waved, trying to catch his attention. He winked at one of the women along the fence line and laughed as she started whispering to her friend. “You see? I’m just being friendly, the way my mama taught me.”

“Sure you are.” David shook his head and jerked his chin toward the chutes. “Quit fraternizing with the bunnies and pay attention. We’re almost up.”

The pair jogged their geldings to the gate and waited for their turn. As the steer was loaded into the chute, David walked his mount into the heeler box while Chris urged his into the opposite side and waited for the cowboy manning it to stretch the barrier rope across the front. He backed his horse into the corner of the box, feeling his haunches bunch under him, twitching with anticipation.

Chris settled the loop of his rope in his right hand, slipping his reins through his left until they were exactly the way he liked them. His gelding pawed his front foot, anticipating his opportunity to bolt forward. He inhaled deeply, practically tasting the damp earth. A slow smile spread over his lips. He loved this life.

Settling into the saddle, murmuring to his gelding, he let out the breath. He glanced over the chute at David and, seeing he was ready, nodded to the cowboy who released the steer from the chute. He nudged the gelding’s sides, breaking from the box as the rope snapped, clearing him to make a clean run.

Swinging the loop over his head, he felt the rope slide deftly through his fingers until instinct told him it was exactly the size and position he wanted it to be. Reaching his arm forward, he tossed it perfectly over the steer’s horns, flipping his hand over and catching the rope in his fingers as he simultaneously wound it around the saddle horn and turned his gelding. He directed the steer forward, the rope pressing against his thigh, as David aimed his loop downward to catch the steer’s back feet. Watching over his shoulder, he heard the zip of the rope and saw David catch both feet. Chris spun his horse to face his partner, stretching their ropes taut as the official snapped his flag, signaling their time. 5.2. It was a great time; enough for first place, but they wouldn’t know if they could hold their position until after tomorrow’s performance.

The men rode toward one another causing the rope to loosen and slip from the steer’s hind legs. David wound his rope as Chris followed the steer to the end of the arena where another cowboy removed his rope and a third opened the back gate for him to exit.

“Nice run, Chris.”

He twisted in his saddle in time to see Alicia loading her horses into her trailer. “Thanks. You’re leaving?” A curl of disappointment twisted through his gut, surprising him.

“Yeah, if I leave now, I can get home in time to help Dad feed the horses.”

“Oh.” He noticed David riding up behind him. “Hey, do you remember David Greenly?”

“Who wouldn’t? You’re practically rodeo royalty,” she said, her pretty almond eyes turned toward David as she smiled up at him. “That was a great catch.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

Chris looked from one to the other and frowned. David might be a man of few words but he’d never known him to be shy. He wondered at David’s uncharacteristic surly frown. From the way his eyes slid over her curves, he was obviously attracted to her but you sure couldn’t tell it by the look on his face. If he could get David to loosen up and find a nice woman to put up with his hyper-competitive, driven nature, they could start having fun roping again. Right now, David seemed intent on making it work.

He knew David’s dad was putting him under a lot of pressure to make the Finals this year, and Chris could see it taking a toll. David needed to find a woman to loosen David up while keeping his eyes on the championship, and Chris was sure Alicia was perfect for him. Sweet and fun, she’d always been a smart girl with ambition and a knack for talking them both out of trouble. She was just as driven as either of them. To tell the truth, growing up he’d always wanted to hook up with her himself but didn’t want the complication that would arise from dating his sister’s best friend. If David let himself, Chris knew he would fall for her dark beauty immediately. That is, if he would quit frowning and actually talk to her.

Chris leaned on the horn of his saddle as Alicia locked the back gate of her trailer and leaned against it. “How is your dad? I haven’t seen him since the rodeo last year.”

“Good, still working at the Diamond Bar.” She crossed her arms, leaning against her trailer and smiled up at him.

“He hasn’t moved on yet?”

Alicia cocked her head. “As if he would ever leave. He’s been working for them since before I was born.”

“And your mom?”

Alicia glanced at David, sitting stick-straight in the saddle, his eyes sliding over her as if he was trying to gauge her worth. It wasn’t hard to see he was uncomfortable and wanted to move on. Chris knew David was irritated with him, but Alicia was sure to think she was the cause and Chris wanted to warn him to dial back the attitude. Just because his family was rodeo champion stock didn’t mean Alicia was going to let someone treat her like chopped liver.

“She’s still working for them too, running their house. I’m sure she’d love for you to stop by to say hi before you head out of town.”

“I’m sure we could do that.” Chris sat up and glanced at David. “Matter of fact, we’re finished. If you want to wait for us, we can load our rig and head over to the house to help your dad feed.” He didn’t wait for David to agree, avoiding the pointed look he shot at Chris.

David sighed and shook his head, clenching his jaw. He refrained from commenting but it didn’t hide his irritation. Chris glared at him in warning. What did David have to complain about? Chris was setting him up with a beautiful woman—unless David didn’t realize what Chris was doing and thought Chris was trying to hook up with her. The thought almost made him laugh out loud. David would know by now that Chris liked women without strings attached. No commitments, ever. Alicia was the opposite. She was the girl you built forever with and Chris had no interest in forever. But, David? He was a different story.

Chris wasn’t worried that Alicia might not be interested in his partner. He was the type of guy every girl wanted to settle down with—sturdy, dependable, ambitious—and for some reason, women were drawn to his “Aw shucks” demeanor. Chris had enough of them ask him about his friend to know the air of dependable, quiet strength surrounding him was what women sought in marriage material. They weren’t looking for a fun-loving, irresponsible husband. They wanted a guy they could count on and, of the two of them, that was definitely David.

Alicia glanced at David again cautiously. “I’m sure Mama and Daddy would love for you guys to come have dinner with us but I’m not sure David wants to.”

Chris shot David a warning look and cocked his head, smiling at Alicia’s forthright comment. “Who cares what this guy wants.” Chris jerked a thumb at David. “I’d love a home cooked meal. I’m sick of his ironed grilled cheese and cold French fries.” He grimaced and she laughed.

“It can’t be that bad.”

“It is,” David agreed, barely cracking a smile. Chris wished his friend would just lighten up for a few minutes. “I guess I’ll get started loading the horses then. Sounds like I’ll see you in just a bit, Alicia.” David spun the horse and headed past several large stock trailers on his way to the one he shared with Chris.

Alicia watched him leave, curiously, before raising her brows and turning to Chris. “Wow, he’s kinda intense.”

Chris stifled a chuckle, glad she wasn’t judging him by their first encounter. “Yeah, but he’s a good guy and I know he’s got my back no matter what.”

“You mean he’d bail you out of any kind of trouble you get yourself into,” she said, jingling her keys, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I mean, he has. Several times,” he clarified before giving her a guilty smile. “Probably will again before this weekend is over.” Chris glanced back in the direction David had gone. “I better go help him. If you want to head out, we’ll just be a few minutes behind you. I think, after all these years, I can still remember the way,” he said before winking at her and watching her pull out of the arena before nudging his gelding toward his trailer.

As he rode closer, he could see the fury in David’s face and wondered at the wisdom of their dinner plans.

“What the hell was that?” David tossed the saddle blanket into the trailer. “I thought we were going to go to the barbecue before we headed out tonight. We were leaving remember?”

Chris shrugged off his friend’s anger. “So? We have a change in plans. It’s not a big deal.” He loosened his gelding’s cinch. “Since when do you complain about a meal you don’t have to pay for?”

“I’m not complaining about the meal. I’m complaining about you being so obvious.” He leaned over his gelding’s back and crossed his wrists. “If I want a date, I’ll get one myself. I don’t need your help.”

“Yeah, because it’s happened so often over the past three months.”

David shook his head and sighed as he brushed the horse. “Have you ever stopped to think that not everyone is like you? You have more notches on your bed than I have trophy buckles.”

Chris laughed out loud. He wasn’t offended by David’s comment. He knew he had the reputation of being a playboy and he’d never tried to correct the rumors that he slept with the women he flirted with. He’d assumed they would get cleared up eventually. The truth was, when they were on the road, he gave most women a ride home only when they were too drunk to drive, and then he slept in his truck or a spare bedroom if they were generous. He’d seen the devastation drunk driving created after losing a friend on her way home from a rodeo. After that night, he vowed to do his best to see any woman home safely. He’d never thought it might make him look like a dog.

Then there were the women he took home because he was afraid if they were left to their own devices, they’d be taken advantage of by some of the less than gentlemanly cowboys who preyed on “buckle bunnies.” Sure, he was a red-blooded man and there were nights he didn’t go to bed alone, but not nearly as many as people suspected. But only Sydney knew the truth. These rumors following him were getting out of hand and he was going to need to clear all of it up before it bit him in the ass.

“Walk a mile in these boots, my friend, and you might find it’s not all you think it is.” He shook his head. “I’m sick of listening to women trying figure out how to get your attention. Alicia is a pretty, sweet woman who can cowboy with the best of them. I just thought you two have a lot in common and you’re not the type of guy to love ’em and leave ’em so I know you won’t hurt her. Besides, you’d better settle down and start having that family you talk about soon or you’re gonna be too old to have kids.”

“Whatever, Chris.” David rolled his eyes and tossed the brush into the shelf on the door. “You’ve already roped me into this. It’s not like I can back out now. It just would’ve been nice to have some warning.”

“It’s feeding some horses. We have to do the same with our own.”

David untied his horse’s lead rope and loaded him into the trailer. “Just do me a favor and ask first next time.”

“Sure.” Chris chuckled quietly, congratulating himself on a match well-made. Tonight they’d have dinner and, hopefully, he’d convince the pair to go to the dance. Tomorrow, they’d head out and, if all went according to plan, David would be so busy watching for Alicia at the next rodeo that Chris might get ten minutes all to himself.

Chapter Two

A
LICIA PULLED THE
truck into the circular drive, hoping there was enough room for both rigs to fit in front of her parents’ tiny modular home. She was worried about Chris and David coming over. She wasn’t blind. She knew Chris was trying to set her up with David, which was embarrassing enough, but she didn’t really want him to see where she lived. Her parents worked hard but she wasn’t exactly proud of the fact her mother was a glorified housekeeper and her father cleaned stalls for a living. She sighed, guilt sweeping over her. She hated feeling ashamed of her upbringing but the emotions wouldn’t stay buried.

Face it, you’re poor
, she scolded herself.
That’s not going to change anytime soon.

She’d always been the poor kid growing up. When she was young, she’d worn clothes that smelled like moth balls and musty books, never owning anything new or firsthand. What she wouldn’t have given for a trip to the mall, just once. Even when they’d moved into West Hills and she’d gone to high school, everything had been second hand. She’d been grateful for even the little she had, but it wasn’t easy when she saw girls coming to school in every new fad, while she was wearing the same jeans she’d had for four years. She hadn’t wanted anyone to know so she learned to sew, managing to refurbish thrift store deals into Western couture, and made all of her own riding shirts for rodeos. She’d even sold a few of her designs to other queen contestants to make ends meet and help her parents out. Chris knew because he’d seen it firsthand over the many years she and Sydney had been friends, but what would David Greenly think when he saw what little they had?